Tips to Carry Out VANOS Repairs on Your BMW

11 Jul, 19

A BMW is a car that many people yearn to own. The company is known for building quality vehicles that are sleek and fast. It is a great option for people that are concerned about safety but also want a car that has excellent performance. If not properly maintained, your BMW can suffer and you may have to deal with a number of problems that can get costly to repair.

By having a trusted mechanic who is also familiar with working on BMWs, and by adhering to the recommended services found in your owner’s manual, you can avoid many issues with your BMW model. Another good reason to keep up with the maintenance on your car is because you can catch many problems early. Let’s take a look at a common fault in the BMWs: the VANOS problem.

What is the VANOS in my BMW?

If you are an owner of a BMW, you may have seen the word VANOS tossed around on forums or have heard it when you are visiting the mechanic. This is an important term to know and understand when it comes to your car. VANOS is a shortened version of VAriable NOckenwellen Steuerung, in German. VANOS is the system aids in valve timing. Through the changing of the position of the camshaft, in relation to the drive gear, the system’s valves adjust accordingly.

What all of that means is that the VANOS helps to adjust the camshaft for your vehicle’s intake and the exhaust valves. This helps your car have better idling. It also can help with having more torque, and even helps the power-band be slightly more elastic.

There are other features that the VANOS helps with on your car. For example, the solenoids are what aid in controlling how much oil flows to the cam gear. This is important to allowing the timing to adjust properly. If the VANOS does not function properly, this can negatively affect the performance of your car. You may even notice that the power is lacking. If you catch the signs early enough, you can avoid damaging your car even further. If you do not get this issue dealt with quickly, you can cause a chain reaction and start to notice other problems with your vehicle.

What are the signs that indicate a VANOS malfunction?

While you may not need to know all of the nitty-gritty details of how the system works, if you do, it definitely helps the health of your BMW. However, if understanding this feature is not your thing, then be aware that this system is vital to the overall performance of your car. If you experience problems with it, you will want to get them addressed immediately by a professional mechanic.

A common sign that the VANOS in your vehicle may be malfunctioning is that your check engine light may turn on. This is the most obvious sign that there is a problem. You may also start to notice that your vehicle does not have as much power as normal and is not getting enough rpms. If that is the case, you should take your car in for inspection. A mechanic will be able to diagnose the issue for you. You may also see that your car is not getting the proper gas mileage. While this does not always indicate an issue with the VANOS, you will still want to get it looked at nonetheless.

How We Can Help

Here at Santa Barbara Autowerks, we take pride in providing our clients with excellent customer service. If you think your vehicle is experiencing any issues with the VANOS, our mechanics will be able to provide you with a diagnostic test. In addition to a diagnosis, we can also help you determine the best course of action to fix your car’s problem and get you back on the road safely.

We are convenient to the residents of Santa Barbara, CA. We want to make sure that your car is functioning properly and that you are safe in your vehicle. If you would like to learn more about the many services we offer, or you would like to schedule an appointment, please visit our website or contact our office. A representative will be in touch with you and will be able to provide you more information about repairing the VANOS in your BMW.